Toy or miniature bed



' l -WA June 3, 1952 c. T. MARTIN 2,598,813

TOY OR MINIATURE BED Filed Feb. 24, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l L 2o '0 i ATTORNEY I c. T. MARTIN 2,598,813

TOY OR MINIATURE BED Filed Feb. 24, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 .L Y ///%B w K E a 3 n3 m G. F m m an W .A2 i v June 3, 1952 ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,598,813 TOY OR'MINIATURE Ben Chester l. Martin, Macon, s. 0. Application February 24, 1949, SerialNo 78,151

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a toy or miniature bed.

An important object of the invention is toprovide a collapsible miniature bed, which may be distended or collapsed without the aid of tools or implements. I I I I I I A further object of the invention isto' provide a bed of the above-mentioned character the-head and foot members of which engage stops; carried by the body portion or rails, to'thereby limit the outward movement of such members, their inward movement being prevented by removable sides which are received in groovesformed in'the head and foot members. I II I I I A further object is to vertically taper at least one end of each side, thereby providing pointsof contact only at the topof each side, between the side and the head and foot members, leavin the sides free to be inserted into and removed from positions within the grooves. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified pivotal connection between the rails or bottom members and the head and footrhembers, so that there is no liability of the pivot elements working loose. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a miniature bed which is simple in con-' struction, inexpensive to manufacture, and which will occupy a minimum space during shipment.

Other objects and advantages-of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follow ing description. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and. in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts" throughout the same, a I I Figure 1 is a plan view of thelminiature bed, Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 22 'of Figure 1, I

Figure-'3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, p I I Figure 4 is an enlarged'frag mentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure}, I I I Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentary' vertical section taken on line 55 of-' 1 igure j 1;, I I I I Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6--6-ofFigure-i,' part broken Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 2, showin the bed in the folded or collapsed position Figure 8 is a transversefragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of pivotal connection between the bed bottom and head and foot members, ,I Figure 9 is an enlarged.iragmentary'horizontal section showing'a further modification in the pivotalconnection, and,

Figure 10 is an'enlarged fragmentary horizontal section showing a" still further modificationfof the pivotal connection. I I

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of my inventionattention is called first to Figures 1 to inclusive, wherein the' numeral desi'g hates a bed bottom, preferably formed of plywood, and this bed bottom rigidly secured to longitudinal side rails IIQ by nails, glue; or the like. Arranged'beneath the rails H at their oppositeends are-triangular stop-blocks l2, rigidly secured to the rails by any suitable means; such as nails, glue", or the like. The tops of the rails-H are-preferably slightly rounded as at l3, while the ends M are perpendicular and are in alignment with the perpendicular faces [5' of theblockslz'. I I I I The" numerals l6 and If! designate head and foot members which are substantially identical. Each head and foot"rnember includes vertical posts f8; provided upon their inner sides with grooves 9 to receivevertical edges of a panel 2'0Iheld thereinby'gluaor the like. These posts e nage downw'ardlybeyond the lower edge of panel 2' 0 forming legs 2 I The grooves I 9" preferably are out throughthe opposite ends of each The posts are provided between their post; 18 I ends with enlargements" 22,'projecting lOn tu dinally of the bed, and these enlargements have tapered ends 23 which blend into the'upp'er and lower ends of the posts; The enlargements 22 have longitudinal vertical' rooves out therein, and extending through their upper and lower tapered ends 23. v

Means are provided to pivotally'connect each post i8 with the adjacent end of the rail ll. This means comprises atransverse pivot element in theform'of abolt lfiywhi-ch extends through a' tra'nsvers e' opening 25" formedtin the post 18; The belt 2 ihasan outer head 21 which isjslotted for engagement'with a screwdriver. The bolt receives' there'onja nut 28, mountedfwithin a SQIIQIE'TBCE5S'I 29 formed in theinner face of the post Hi. The boltzfigextends inwardly beyond the nut 28, and is' piv'otally' mounted'within a transverse opening 30fformed in the adjacent rail I'L' The boltisclampe'd to'th' post [8 and does not turn withresp'e'ct to the post, but is freely turnable within the opening 303" in the menttherewith; The distance between the'cen ter of the bolt and the adjacent outer end of the rail H is equal to the distance between the inner side of the groove IQ of the post or the inner face of the panel and the center of the bolt. This results in the panel 20 being arranged perpendicularly when the head or foot member IE or H is opened, and such panel will then contact the perpendicular face of the stopblock I2. When the head and foot members I6 and l! are moved to their opened perpendicular positions, they are retained in these positions by sides 3|, the opposite ends 32 and 33 of which are inserted within the vertical grooves 24. These grooves 24 have their lower ends open, as stated, and the downward movement of each side is limited by stops in the form of dowels 34, inserted within openings formed in the posts l8 at the bottoms of the grooves. each side 3| is vertically inclined or beveled, extending inwardly downwardly, whereby the top of the side 3| has a greater length. than its bottom, see Figure 6. Thisconstruction provides contact points for each side 3|, which remain in permanent contact with the head or foot members It or I! when the bed is assembled. These points of contact rigidly hold the head and foot members l6 and I! against inward swinging movement, while their outward swinging movement is prevented by the panels 20 contacting with the stop-blocks I2. The advantage gained in providing the beveled ends 33 and the upper contact points 35 is that the sides 3| may be readily inserted and removed, without binding, and as soon as the contact points 35 are lifted above. the grooves 24, the sides 3| will freely pass out of'the' grooves 24. Likewise, the beveled or tapered ends 33 facilitate the insertion of the sides 3| into the grooves.

Attention is directed next to Figure 9, wherein I have shown a modified manner of pivotally connecting each post I8 with the adjacent end of each rail H. In Figure 9, the numeral 36 designates a square recess provided in the outer face of each rail I, for receiving a nut 31, to hold the same against turning. Aligned openings 38 and 39 are formed in the post l8 and rail respectively, for receiving a bolt 40 inserted from the outer side of the post I8, as shown. A second nut 4| is provided at the inner side of the rail I, and

mounted upon the bolt 40. With this arrangement, the bolt 40' is held against turning movement with respect to the rail II, but is turnable within the opening 38. All other points are identical with the corresponding points shown and described in connection with the first form of the invention. I V

In Figure 10 a further modified form of pivotal connection between each rail and each post H! is shown. In Figure 10 aligned openings 42 and 43 are formed in the post [8 and rail respectively, and these aligned openings receive a metal sleeve 44' which is freely turnable therein. The sleeve 44 extends slightly beyond the outer side of the post I8 and the inner side of rail II, as shown, and receives a bolt 45 carrying washers 46 at its opposite ends.'and a nut 41 at its inner end adjacent to the inner side of rail All other parts of the miniature bed are identical with those shown and described in connection The end 33 of opposite ends rigidly secured within aligned openings 5|] in the posts l8. The rails H are freely turnable with respect to the rod 48, the ends of which have a forced fit in the openings 53. All other parts of the minature bed are identical with those shown and described in the first form of the invention.

It should be noted with respect to the first form of the invention, as shown clearly in Figure '7, that the distance between the centers of the bolts 25 and the top surface of the bed bottom It is slightly less than the distance between the centers of the bolts and the inner faces of the panels 20. This results in the panels 20 being maintained slightly spaced from the upper face of the bottom it except at the extreme inner ends of the panels 23' when the bed is folded or collapsed, Figure 7. This arrangement is advantageous, since it prevents any tendency for the paint on the panels 23 to stick to the paint on the bottom l0 during shipment.

It is to b understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be restorted to, without departing form the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails having openings disposed near the ends of said side rails, depending stop-blocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends and arranged a substantial distance below the openings, head and foot members, each of said members comprising posts and a panel securedto the posts and extending between the same, each post having an opening in alignment with one of the openings in the adjacent side rail, bolts disposed within the openings in the posts and having portions extending through the openings in the side rails for pivotally connecting the head and foot members to the side rails, each post being provided with a longitudinal groove extending a substantial distance above the bolts, and sides extending removably into the grooves of the posts a substantial distance above the bolts, such sides preventing the inward swinging of the upper ends of the head and foot members when the bed is assembled, the stop-blocks engaging the head and foot members below the bolts to limit the outward swinging of the upper ends of said members. r 7 z I E I w 2. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails having openings near their ends, depending stop-blocks secured tothe side rails adjacent to their ends and below the openings and having faces fiush with the ends of the rails, head and foot members, each of such members comprising posts and a. transverse panel connected with the posts, each post having an opening in alignment with one of the openings in the adjacent side rail, bolts disposed within the openings in the posts and having portions projecting into the openings in the side rails to pivotally connect the head and foot members with the side rails, each post being provided with an enlargement having a groove extending through the same, stops secured to the posts near the lower ends of said grooves, the grooves extending a substantial distance above the bolts, and sides extending removably into the grooves of the posts above the bolts, the sides engaging upon the stops near the lower ends of the grooves, each side having one end inclined inwardly toward its bottom and forming substantially a point contact between the side and the bottom of one of' the grooves, the sides preventing the inward swinging of the upper ends of the head and foot members, the ends of the rails and stop-blocks contacting the panels" a substantial distance below the bolts to limit the outward swinging of the upper ends of the head and foot members.

3. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails having openings near their ends, stop-blocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends, head and foot members, each of said members comprising posts and a panel connecting the posts, the posts having openingsin alignment with the openings in the side rails and recesses formed in their inner surfaces,.bolts arranged within the openings of the posts and extending turnably through the opening in'the side rails and serving to pivotally connect the posts and side rails, nuts secured to the bolts and arranged within the recesses in the posts and held with the bolts against turning relative to the posts by the recesses, the posts being provided with inwardly facing enlargement having longitudinal grooves extending entirely therethrough, stops mounted upon the posts near the bottoms of the longitudinal grooves, and sides having ends removably extending into the grooves and resting upon the stops near the bottoms of the grooves, the sides preventing inward swinging of the head and foot members while the stop blocks prevent the outward swinging of said members.

4. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails having openings near their ends, stop-blocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends, head and foot members, each of said members comprising posts and a panel connecting the posts, each post having an opening in alignment with one of the openings in the adjacent side rail, a rod secured within the openings of the posts of each member and extending through the adjacent openings in the side rails and serving to pivotally connect the side rails and posts, each post being provided with a longitudinal groove, and sides extending removably into the grooves of the posts, each side having one end inclined inwardly toward its bottom and forming a point contact between the side and the bottom of a groove of the adjacent post, the sides preventing inward swinging of the head and foot members, the stop-blocks engaging the panels to limit the outward swinging of the head and foot members.

5. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails, said side rails having transverse openings near their ends and recesses upon their outer faces leading into the openings, head and foot members, each member comprising posts, the posts of each member provided with longitudinal grooves upon their inner edges and having transverse openings, bolts passing through the transverse openings of the posts and the transverse openings of the rails, an inner nut carried by each bolt and arranged within the recess of the rail, a second nut carried by each bolt and engaging the inner face of the rail, and sides having ends removably extending into the longitudinal grooves.

6. A toy or miniature bed, comprising a bottom including side rails having transverse openings near their ends, stop-blocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends, head and foot members, each member comprising posts, the posts of each member having longitudinal grooves upon their inner edges and transverse openings, a

sleeve arranged within each'transverse opening of the post and extending into the adjacent transverse opening of the-rail, a bolt arranged within each sleeve and having a stop element at its outer end, ainut carried by the inner end of each bolt, and sides having endsremovably extending into the grooves.

7. A ioldable miniature bed comprising a bottom including longitudinal side rails, depending stop-blocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends, the rails being provided near their ends and above the stop-blocks with'transverse openings, head and foot members arranged adjacent to the ends of the'bottom, each of said members including a transverse panel and a pair of posts secured to the panel and disposed upon the outer sides of the side rails, the posts of each pair overlapping end portions of the side rails, the posts being provided above their lower endswith transverse openings arranged alignment with the adjacent openings of the side rails, bolt means extending through the transverse openings of the posts and side rails and pivotally connecting the head'and foot members with the bottom and supporting the bottom in an elevated position, the transverse panels of the head and foot members being arranged beyond the adjacent ends or" the side rails and extending below the side rails and engaging the depending stop-blocks to limit upward outward swinging movement of the upper ends of the head and foot members, the posts of the head and foot members being provided upon their inner faces with longitudinal grooves having stop means at their lower ends near the elevation of the bolt means, the grooves extending for substantial distances above the bolt means and having their upper ends open, and longitudinal sides extending between the head and foot members and having ends removably extending into the grooves and resting upon the stop means and holding the upper ends of the head and foot members against swinging downwardly, said sides extending above the bolt means for a substantial distance.

8. A foldable miniature bed comprising a bottom including longitudinal side rails provided near their ends with transverse openings, head and foot members arranged adjacent to the ends of the side rails, each member including a transverse panel arranged beyond the adjacent ends of the side rails and posts secured to the ends of the panel and disposed upon the outer sides of the side rails, the posts having transverse openings above their lower ends and arranged in alignment with the openings of the side rails, the posts having recesses in their inner faces adjacent to the side rails and leading into their transverse openings, bolts engaging in the openings of the posts and extending turnably into the openings of the side rails for pivotally connecting the posts and side rails, nuts mounted upon the bolts and engaging within the recesses of the posts for holding the nuts and bolts against turning relative to the posts, the panels of the head and foot members extending below the side rails and engaging the ends of the side rails to maintain the head and foot members in upright positions, the posts of the head and foot members being provided upon their inner faces with longitudinal grooves extending for a, substantial distance above the bolts, and longitudinal sides extending between the head and foot members and having ends removably extending into the 7 7 grooves and serving; to maintain the head and foot members upright.

9. A foldable miniature bed comprising a-bottom including side rails having openings, stopblocks secured to the side rails adjacent to their ends, head and foot members, each of said members comprising posts and a panel connecting the posts, the posts having openings in alignment with the openings of the side rails and recesses formed in their inner faces, bolts arranged within the openings of the posts and extending turnably through the openings in the side rails and serving to pivotally connect the posts and side rails, nuts secured to the bolts and arranged within the recesses of the posts and held with the bolts against turning relative to the posts by the recesses, the posts being provided upon their inner faces with longitudinal grooves extending above the bolts, and sides extending between the head and foot members and having ends removably extending into the grooves and holding the upper ends of the head and foot members against downward swinging movement, the stopblocks engaging the panels to limit the upward and outward swinging movement of the upper ends of the head and foot members.

CHESTER T. MARTIN.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 785,621 Linderoth Mar. 21, 1905 926,438 Ranko June 29, 1909 1,087,573 Dautrich Feb. 17, 1914 1,370,365 Ross et al. Mar. 1, 1921 1,437,941 Hoover Dec. 5, 1922 2,406,496 Hambacher Aug. 27, 1946 2,447,722 Webb Aug. 24, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,650 France Sept. 18, 1911 

